Printing machine comprising at least one print head

Abstract

A printing machine includes a print head that prints on an article that rotates during printing. A printing width of the print head extends over a section of a length of the article and longitudinally in relation to a longitudinal axis of the article. An orthogonal coordinate system has an origin at a center of mass of the print head, with longitudinal, transverse, and vertical axes. A plurality of the print heads print on the article and are arranged in a row longitudinally in relation to the axis of rotation of the article. The ink ejected by the printing nozzles of the print heads is situated in the same printing plane. The direction of the ink ejected is oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the article. Multiple different printing planes are provided with respect to the surface of the article. Directly adjacent printing planes create a V-shaped formation.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A printing machine comprising at least one print head ( 01 ), a relevant print head ( 01 ) of the at least one print head ( 01 ) being configured to print, in an ink jet printing process, a surface of an article ( 02 ) that rotates during the ink jet printing process; a printing width ( 08 ) of the relevant print head ( 01 ) in each case extending over a relevant section of a length (L 02 ) of the article ( 02 ) to be printed; the relevant section in each case extending longitudinally in relation to a longitudinal axis (X 2 ) of the article ( 02 ) to be printed; a three-dimensional, orthogonal coordinate system, the origin of which is arranged in a center of mass ( 09 ) of the relevant print head ( 01 ) and which is fixed in terms of the print head, having a longitudinal axis (X 1 ) and a transverse axis (Y 1 ) and a vertical axis (Z 1 ); the longitudinal axis (X 1 ) of the relevant print head ( 01 ) extending parallel to the printing width ( 08 ) of this print head ( 01 ); a plurality of print heads ( 01 ) that each print the surface of the relevant article ( 02 ) in an ink jet printing process being provided; these print heads ( 01 ) being arranged in a row longitudinally in relation to the longitudinal axis (X 2 ) of the article ( 02 ) to be printed; a respective direction of the ink ejected by the respective printing nozzles ( 07 ) of these print heads ( 01 ) and the longitudinal axis (X 2 ) of the article ( 02 ) to be printed being situated in the same printing plane ( 04 ); the respective direction of the ink ejected by the respective printing nozzles ( 07 ) of these print heads ( 01 ) being in each case oriented perpendicularly to the surface of the relevant article ( 02 ) to be printed; a plurality of different printing planes ( 04 ) being provided with respect to the surface of the relevant article ( 02 ) to be printed; and directly adjacent printing planes ( 04 ) creating a V formation; a control unit being provided; this control unit being designed so as to track, or at least be able to track, a respective printing position of the relevant print head ( 01 ) during an ongoing printing process based on a surface geometry of the article ( 02 ) to be printed; and a mount holding the relevant print head ( 01 ) being provided, characterized in that the mount of the relevant print head ( 01 ) is movably designed in such a way that the relevant print head ( 01 ) carries out a rotational movement at least about the vertical axis (Z 1 ) thereof, the mount changing the position of the relevant print head ( 01 ) in space comprising a first positioning drive ( 21 ) by way of which the at least one print head ( 01 ) can be displaced along the transverse axis (Y 1 ) thereof; this mount comprising a second positioning drive ( 22 ) by way of which the at least one print head ( 01 ) can be rotated about the vertical axis (Z 1 ) thereof; and this mount comprising a third positioning drive ( 23 ) by way of which the at least one print head ( 01 ) can be rotated about the longitudinal axis (X 1 ) thereof. 
     
     
       2. The printing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the mount of the relevant print head ( 01 ) is designed so as to be movable in such a way that the relevant print head ( 01 ) not only carries out a rotational movement about the vertical axis (Z 1 ) thereof, but also about the transverse axis (Y 1 ) thereof and/or about the longitudinal axis (X 1 ) thereof. 
     
     
       3. The printing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each of the print heads ( 01 ), during the printing process, is arranged perpendicularly to the surface of the relevant article ( 02 ) to be printed, a longitudinal cutting plane ( 04 ) extending through the relevant print head ( 01 ) intersecting an axis of rotation ( 03 ) of the relevant article ( 02 ), and the axis of rotation ( 03 ) of the relevant article ( 02 ) being the longitudinal axis (X 2 ) thereof. 
     
     
       4. The printing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each of the print heads ( 01 ) is in each case arranged at a distance between 1 mm and less than 8 mm with respect to the surface of the relevant article ( 02 ) to be printed. 
     
     
       5. The printing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each of the print heads ( 01 ) comprises at least one row of printing nozzles ( 07 ) arranged next to one another, a length of the relevant row of printing nozzles ( 07 ) defining the printing width ( 08 ) of the relevant print head ( 01 ). 
     
     
       6. The printing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the article ( 02 ) to be printed is held in a holding device that belongs to the printing machine, a three-dimensional, orthogonal coordinate system, the origin of which is arranged in a center of mass ( 11 ) of the relevant article ( 02 ) and which is fixed in terms of the article, comprising the longitudinal axis (X 2 ) of the relevant article ( 02 ) and a transverse axis (Y 2 ) and a vertical axis (Z 2 ); and the holding device of the relevant article ( 02 ) being movably designed in such a way that the relevant article ( 02 ) in each case carries out a rotational movement about the transverse axis (Y 2 ) thereof and/or about the vertical axis (Z 2 ) thereof. 
     
     
       7. The printing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that print heads ( 01 ) arranged in the same printing plane ( 04 ) can each be collectively displaced by the relevant positioning drives ( 21 ;  22 ;  23 ) along their respective transverse axis (Y 1 ) and/or rotated about their respective longitudinal axis (X 1 ) and/or their respective vertical axis (Z 1 ). 
     
     
       8. The printing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the positioning drives ( 21 ;  22 ;  23 ) changing the position of the relevant print head ( 01 ) in space are electrically actuated or at least actuatable. 
     
     
       9. The printing machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the positioning drives ( 21 ;  22 ;  23 ) changing the position of the relevant print head ( 01 ) in space are controlled by the control unit.